Quick emptying, movably mounted, spring-loaded supply container



prnl l0, 1951 W. H. RICHARDS 2,541,974

Qui-cx EMPTYING, MovALY MOUNTED, SPRING-LOADED SUPPLY CONTAINER FiledFeb.`5, 1947 l arroz/vets Patented pr. 10, 1951 QUICK EMPTYING, MOVABLYMOUNTED, SPRING-LOADED SUPPLY CONTAINER William H. Richards, Dayton,Ohio Application February 5, 1947, Serial No. 726,506 v 1 Claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

The invention relates to a quick emptying, movably mounted,spring-loaded supply container. While it may be applied to any purposefor which quick-emptying tanks are desirable, it is especially adaptedto use in photography as a developing tank. The invention will bedescribed in relation to such use.

The principal object is to provide a tank which may be emptied at afaster rate, Without inverting it, than tanks now in use.

Another object is to provide a tank which needs only an upward pull toinitiate the emptying action.

Another object is to provide a tank of the aforesaid characteristicswhich will not retain residual liquid and which will be positive in itsopening and shutting actions.

Another object is to provide a tank which, in large sizes, can readilybe emptied with the aid of an overhead crane.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a tank according to my invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the discharge orifice and is also avertical section.

I is the tank, proper, which may or may not be provided with a freelyvented lid II. The oor I2 has preferably an easy frusto-conical slope toa round or other shaped orifice I3. Around the outer edge of the orificeI3, there is a gasket I4, preferably round and circular in crosssection. It is preferably retained in a spring channel I5 which isattached to the tank I0 by welding or the like. The tank rests on thegasket and the latter rests on a low sealing block I6 which has ashouldered shape conforming preferably to the shape of the orice I3,vthe base below the shoulder being somewhat larger.

Surrounding the tank I0 is a framework I7 which may itself be in theshape of a tank. The block I6 rests on the bottom I8 of the frameworkIl. One or more holes I9 are provided in the bottom I8 in order to allowliquid emptied from the tank I to ow out of the framework I'I. Attachedto the framework on the inner surface thereof are a pair of rods orrails I9 which are offset to such a shape that their side view is thatof a low flat trapezoid. Wound about each of the rods I9 on the straightportion thereof is a coil spring 20. The spring 20 is held between upperstop nuts and lower lugs, respec- (Granted under the act of amendedApril 30, 1928;

March 3, 1883, as 370 O. G. 257) tively 2I and 22. Lugs 22 are attachedto the side walls of the tank I0 and also encircle the bars I9. Nuts 2|are free from the tank but are adjustably attached to a point on therods I9.

Above each rod I 9 is mounted a right angled lug 23 upon which may resta hinge 24* for a bail 25, which latter serves as a handle whereby thetank IB may be lifted olf block I6. Lugs 23 are not essential elementsbut are preferred so that part of the weight of the tank I0 and contentsis supported upon them and part on the gasket Ill. Lugs 23 prevent toospeedy a loss of resilience of the gasket I4 from overcompression `andalso frictionally support the bail in an upright position as shown inFig. 1.

Assuming that the tank is full of liquid, an upward pull is given onbail 25, either by hand or by crane, to empty the tank. The latter islifted off block I6 and the liquid runs out the orice I3 from betweenthe gasket I 4 and the block I 6 into the space 26 between the tank I0and framework I1. It then runs out of the latter through opening I9.During the lifting of tank I0, spring 20 has been compressed betweenupwardly moving lugs 22 and nuts 2l. Upon lowering the emptied tank, thespring 20 exerts downward pressure on gasket I4, thereby providing anon-leaking t of the tank I0 on block I6. This fit is rendered tighterby the weight of liquid when the tank I0 is lled. The gasket I4 may becompressed until the hinges 24 rest fully on the lugs 23. It will beseen therefore that a heavy discharge of liquid from the tank I0 can beaccomplished in a very short time.

By a modication of the invention, for use when the tank is to be liftedmanually, the coil springs 29 are in tension instead of compression whenthe tank is in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. In such case theretractive force of the springs 29 assists the manual effort required tolift the tank to empty it. The lifting force of the springs 2n may beadjusted by turning the stops 2| which for this purpose may be threadedas stop nuts on the rods I9. The degree of adjustment is preferably thatwhich just counterbalances the Weight of the tank when empty.

plates are being especially where mass production in short periods oftime is the goal. It is also evident that a photographic process hasbeen disclosed, i. e., in development, the steps of moving the developersolution quickly away from the material to tbe developed, instead of theconventional method of moving the lms or plates out of the developerbath.

The invention claimed is: I g Y vA quick-emptying tank whichycofrlflprises `an outer framework, a tank within said framework, saidtank having a discharge orifice Vin its bot# tom, a shouldered blockbetween .said framework and said oriiice, a gasket closely abutting saidblock about the shoulder thereof whereby yto seal the orifice, offsetrods mounted -on opposite sides of said framework between said framework'and said tank, a lug on each side of said tank substantially encirclingone of said rods, a coil spring encircling each Iof said rods above saidlug, an adjustable stop nut .threaded-ly engaging each of said rodsabove .said coil spring., '.t-h'e upper end of each of said coil springsbeing Aattached to one of said stop nuts, a bail for said 4 tank, hingesfor said bail, an inwardly-projecting lug at the top of each rod, saidhinges making contact with the top surfaces of said inwardly projectinglugs whereby to assist in preventing said gasket from :becomingover-compressed by the weight of the tank.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

